By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — Safety and product rating website airlineratings.com named the Philippine Airlines (PAL) as the “Most Improved Airline for 2019”.
On the website, airlineratings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas said the move to expand its global footprint using new generation fuel-efficient aircraft equipped with the latest cabins makes PAL a worthy winner of this award category.
Last July, PAL rolled out its brand-new Airbus A350 and A321neo aircraft.
The flag carrier will use the Airbus A350 for long-haul flights. This type of aircraft was used to fly PAL’s non-stop Manila-New York route last month.
PAL officials are also eyeing to use this in other routes in North America and Europe in the future.
The A350 can fly up to 8,000 nautical miles, and the aircraft’s cabin is quieter compared with other aircraft, since it uses a design and technology that reduce the noise by up to four times, according to PAL.
The A321neo, on the other hand, is a 168-seater aircraft that showcases modern innovations in cabin layout and seat design. There is more cabin space and better leg room for passengers, even in the economy section.
This will be used for PAL’s Manila-Sapporo route, which will begin this December. Currently, PAL also uses an A321neo for its nonstop Manila-Brisbane flights.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna on Wednesday said airlineratings.com editors also lauded the carrier’s international and domestic routes expansion plans, particularly the upcoming Sapporo, New Delhi and Mumbai routes.
Based on the airlineratings.com website, PAL is a new winner. Singapore Airlines bagged the Airline of the Year award.
